🇵🇰 Islamic Charities from Gulf States Funded Child Recruitment Network in Pakistan, WikiLeaks Reveals

A network operating in Pakistan, recruiting children as young as eight for holy war, was allegedly financed by Islamic charities from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as reported by a local newspaper on Sunday, citing Wikileaks.

According to a U.S. diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks, approximately $100 million annually flowed from Gulf Arab states to a jihadist recruitment network in Punjab province, Pakistan. Dawn newspaper reported the cable dated November 2008, authored by Bryan Hunt, then principal officer at the U.S. consulate in Lahore, which was based on discussions with local government and non-governmental sources during visits to Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province.

The cable revealed that sources indicated financial assistance from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was routed through “missionary” and “Islamic charitable” organizations, allegedly with the direct backing of the governments of these countries.

Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Pakistan had provided substantial support to the Afghan mujahedeen during the Soviet occupation in the 1980s, contributing to the rise of militancy in the region. This insurgency later spilled over into Pakistan’s northwest tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, which became a focal point for militant activities.

Over time, a connection between militant groups in these tribal areas and Punjab has emerged. Despite military operations against their strongholds, militants have continued to carry out suicide bombings with alarming frequency in Pakistan.

The report by Dawn newspaper highlights the concerning implications of external funding for militant activities, underscoring the challenges faced by Pakistan in combating extremism within its borders.